Thomas used break to prep for 2nd game with Texans

HOUSTON—While most of his new teammates were relaxing on beaches or attending football games at their universities during Houston’s bye week, Demaryius Thomas was at NRG Stadium studying the playbook and watching film.

Thomas, who was acquired from Denver on Oct. 30, didn’t have the luxury of a break. The receiver had too much to catch up on after struggling at times in his Texans debut in a 19-17 win over his former team just five days after the trade.

He had three receptions for 61 yards in that game, but had a false start, lined up in the wrong spot and looked lost on a drive in the fourth quarter.

“I don’t even want to have to deal with that again,” Thomas said. “It was two

critical downs where it could have hurt us in the game, but it didn’t. So I stayed here, got situated and I was in the playbook.”

Thomas believes his extra work will make things smoother Sunday when the Texans travel to face the Redskins. The game will also be emotionally easier for Thomas since it isn’t against the team with which he spent his entire career before the trade.

“I feel way better,” he said. “I ain’t playing the Denver Broncos, a team I was playing for for nine years also. So with the weeks in and preparation still going on, I feel a lot better.”

The Broncos honored Thomas, who was their first-round pick in 2010, with a video tribute before the game which featured some of the top touchdown receptions from his time in Denver. He acknowledged that seeing that and then lining up against his former team made the day rather emotional.

“Yeah it was,” he said. “It was tough.”